Reds visit Milwaukee feeling punch-drunk having lost 17 of their last 18 games

It was a historic opening month, Reds Country. Granted, not the kind of history to be proud of, but historic, nonetheless. The Cincinnati Reds (3-19) are off to their worst start in franchise history and trail the first-place Milwaukee Brewers by 11.5 games in the National League Central.

After snapping an 11-game losing streak, the Redlegs started a new slide last week following sweeps administered by the San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies. Losers of 17 of the last 18 contests, it's nearly impossible to imagine things getting much worse.

The division-leading Brewers (15-8) are not having such problems. Winners of seven of their last 10 games, Milwaukee is a game and a half clear of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

The Reds visit the Brewers having lost 17 of their last 18 games.

Additionally, the Brew Crew are at their best against right-handed pitching this year. Entering play today, the Brewers are 11-3 against righties and they'll see three more this week at American Family Field.

The Brewers' Willy Adames enters the series as the reigning Player of the Week in the National League. The Beer Makers shortstop blasted four homers while hitting .310 with a 1.203 OPS to secure the honor.

However, the Milwaukee offense has hardly been impressive this season. As a team, they are slashing an anemic .218/.291/.369 and only the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves have whiffed more the Brew Crew.

Much like last year, Milwaukee's success is predicated on excellent pitching. Brewers' hurlers rank third in the senior circuit with a 3.01 ERA while leading the league with 234 K's as play began Monday. Incredibly, closer Josh Hader already has 10 saves through the first month of the 2022 campaign.

Interestingly, the Reds feasted in the land of sausages and Miller beer last year. Cincinnati was 7-3 versus the Brew Crew at American Family Field during the 2021 season. Let's hope history repeats itself.

Brandon Drury has been the lone bright spot for the Reds this season.

It may have seemed like an insignificant transaction on March 21st, but Brandon Drury has established a clear role on this year's Cincinnati Reds squad after signing as a free agent. That role is destroying left-handed pitching.

Slashing .250/.304/.558 with a team-leading four homers and eight ribbies overall, most of Drury's damage has come against southpaws. In 23 at-bats versus lefties, the right-handed hitting infielder has eight hits including a pair of doubles and home runs with a phenomenal 1.096 OPS.

The 29-year-old Oregonian currently leads the team in slugging (.558), OPS (.861), and OPS+ (136). Power has always been a part of Brandon Drury's game. He's reached double figures in long balls three times throughout his eight-year career including a career-high 16 in 2016 as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

There are questions as to how much playing time Drury will continue to receive during the season. Once Donovan Solano returns from the injured list, it would appear the two would be filling similar roles on David Bell's roster. However, in the meantime, the Reds should give Brandon Drury as many at-bats as possible against left-handed pitching.

Prediction: Brewers take 2-of-3 from the Reds.

To say the Reds schedule, to this point, has been brutal would be an understatement. After facing the Braves, Dodgers, Padres, and Cardinals they now battle the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. Unfortunately, don't expect to see Cincinnati's fortune change.

However, the Redlegs will end their losing streak despite dropping two of three to the Beer Makers. But, just maybe, their luck will change with the Pittsburgh Pirates visiting Great American Ball Park for a four-game set over the weekend.